Lydia Potts - Böcker

A world market in labour has been in the making since Christopher Columbus first landed on the shores of Central America in 1492. This unique book recounts the history of the extraordinary scale and constantly changing character of this movement of workers from one part of the globe to another over the past five centuries. The author outlines this history from the Spaniards' initial enslavement of the Indian populations of Central and South America, and their replenishment by African slaves, to the present day, including contemporary migration to the USA, Europe, Japan, and the oil-rich countries of the Middle East. Throughout, the dual exploitation of women forms an integral part of this study.The author sets this history in the context of various competing theories of capitalist expansion and its demand for labour, and begins the construction of a comprehensive theory of the world market for labour power.

Currently, women' sand gen der studies programs exist in many countries around the world. It is a crucial task for the future of this still emerging disci­ pline to enhance international communication and cooperation between study programs, students, scholars, activists, and professionals. If we consider the ideals and concepts of "emancipation" and "participation" as core principles of women' sand gen der studies, then our global networking requires system­ atic inclusion of non-western perspectives at all levels of research, teaching, and curriculum development. The international conference "Societies in Transition - Challenges to Women's and Gender Studies," held at Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Germany, from June 28 through July 1,2001, was intended as a step in this direction, bringing together speakers - all represented in this book - from a variety of countries: Poland and Hungary, Great Britain and New Zealand, India and Nepal, South Africa, Jordan, Turkey and Yemen. Although this list might at first appear arbitrary, its composition was both carefully and intentionally constructed. As organizers, we knew that a com­ paratively sm all conference could not entertain a fully inclusive representa­ tion of women's and gender studies programs worldwide.

Migration processes affect migrants' families and family relations – in complex and diverse ways. Family fragmentation lasting for years or even decades, access to citizenship and welfare state resources change concepts of parenting and care as well as gender relations.In this volume, authors from Europe, the MENA region and North America discuss the diversity and dynamics of migrant families, including the individual and collective challenges, strategies and agencies. They specially focus on gender dimensions and crisis intervention.